Optoelectronic component

Abstract

This invention relates to an optoelectronic transceiver which has the following: an optical transmitter, an optical receiver, coupling means consisting of a first and second optical lens made with optically active interfaces for changing/deflecting optical paths of on the one hand optical output signals A of the optical transmitter to a connectable optical light guide and on the other hand of input signals E of the same light guide to the receiver, characterized in that the first lens has a concave reflection surface which lies inside in the coupling means for signals of the optical transmitter and the second lens has a convex transmission surface which lies outside for outgoing signals of the optical transmitter and a concave reflection surface which lies inside for incoming signals.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. An optoelectronic transceiver which has the following:
 a) an optical transmitter, 
 b) an optical receiver, 
 c) coupling means consisting of a first and second optical lens made with optically active interfaces for changing/deflecting optical paths of on the one hand optical output signals A of the optical transmitter to a connectable optical light guide and on the other hand of input signals E of the same light guide to the receiver, characterized in that the first lens has a concave reflection surface which lies inside in the coupling means for signals of the optical transmitter and the second lens has a convex transmission surface which lies outside for outgoing signals of the optical transmitter and a concave reflection surface which lies inside for incoming signals. 
 
     
     
       2. The transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material which forms the coupling means defines or fixes the position of the lenses to one another. 
     
     
       3. The transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material has an index of refraction of >1.3 and the inner surface of the second lens is made with a radius of curvature such that the condition of total reflection is satisfied with reference to the optical paths of optical signals which are incident on the interface from the light guide. 
     
     
       4. The transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material which has an index of refraction of >1.3 [sic], and the inner surface of the first lens is made with a radius of curvature such that the condition of total reflection is satisfied with respect to optical paths of optical signals which are incident on the interface from the transmitter. 
     
     
       5. An optoelectronic transceiver which has the following:
 a) an electrical-optical transmitter 
 
       which emits optical signals to an input/output end face of a light guide and/or
 b) an optical-electrical receiver which receives optical signals and converts them into electronic signals, 
 c) a component carrier on which the transmitter and/or receiver is/are located, and one housing part which surrounds the transmitter and/or receiver and which has coupling means which form optical coupling means and mechanical coupling means, the optical coupling means routing or coupling the optical signals coming from the electrical-optical transmitter to the input end face of the light guide and/or routing or coupling the optical beams emerging from the input/output end face of the light guide to the optical-electrical receiver, the mechanical alignment means aligning the light guide with respect to the electrical-optical transmitter and/or the optical electrical receiver for efficient signal transmission, the optical coupling means forming a first reflection interface for the optical signals coming from the transmitter, a second reflection interface for the optical signals emerging from the light guide and furthermore a first and second transmitter surface for the optical signals coming from the transmitter. 
 
     
     
       6. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 5 , characterized in that the housing part is formed preferably by an overmold injection method and is connected to the component carrier or its material by the injection method. 
     
     
       7. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing part forms a mechanical alignment means which aligns one light guide and thus the input/output surface of the light guide with the optical signals which have been reflected from the reflection interfaces. 
     
     
       8. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , that the plastic material, especially the overmold material is transparent and has an index of refraction n>1.3, preferably n=1.5. 
     
     
       9. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , that the mechanical coupling means is made in the form of alignment means for the light guide in the housing part, preferably the alignment means being made in the form of a V-groove which preferably has side surfaces which run obliquely to one another. 
     
     
       10. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein the plastic material forms a reflection interface on the transition between the plastic material and air above the optical transmitter such that the light emerging from the optical transmitter is reflected by the first and second transmission surface onto the input end face of the light guide, and specifically is preferably collimated. 
     
     
       11. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the housing part consists made [sic] of highly transparent plastic, and when the first housing part is formed with a material of a second housing part, it assumes a mechanical connection, the second housing part being a carrier for an optical element and optionally other components or electrical circuits. 
     
     
       12. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the component carrier is a punched component carrier, preferably a lead frame. 
     
     
       13. The optoelectronic transceiver as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the overmold plastic material which forms the housing part, two reflectors or reflection mirrors which each form one reflection surface for the light which can be transmitted between the optical elements positioned on the component carrier and the entry end face of one light guide (and optionally vice versa) [sic], preferably the reflection mirrors which form the reflection surfaces being an internal conical total reflection mirror, the plastic on its interface to the ambient air forming the reflection mirror as a result of the transition from the plastic material with a higher index of refraction to the air with an index of refraction of 1. 
     
     
       14. An optoelectronic component which has the following:
 an optical component which emits optical signals to an input/output end face of a light guide and/or 
 receives optical signals and converts them into electronic signals, a component carrier located on the optical component [sic], and 
 a housing part which surrounds the optical component and which has coupling means which forms optical coupling means and mechanical coupling means (alignment means), the optical coupling means routing the optical signals coming from the optical component to the input end face of the light guide and/or routing the optical beams emerging from the input/output end face of the light guide to the optical component, the mechanical alignment means aligning the light guide with respect to the optical component for efficient signal transmission. 
 
     
     
       15. The optoelectronic component, especially as claimed in  claim 14 , which has the following:
 a) an electrical-optical transmitter 
 
       which emits optical signals to an input/output end face of a light guide and/or
 b) an optical-electrical receiver which receives optical signals and converts them into electronic signals, c) a component carrier on which the transmitter and/or receiver onto one housing part [sic] which surrounds the transmitter and/or receiver and which has coupling means which form optical coupling means and mechanical coupling means, the optical coupling means routing or coupling the optical signals coming from the electrical-optical transmitter to the input end face of the light guide and/or routing or coupling the optical beams emerging from the input/output end face of the light guide to the optical-electrical receiver, the mechanical alignment means aligning the light guide with respect to the electrical-optical transmitter and/or the optical-electrical receiver for efficient signal transmission. 
 
     
     
       16. The optoelectronic component as claimed in  claim 15 , characterized in that the housing part is formed preferably by an overmold injection method and is connected to the component carrier or its material by the injection method. 
     
     
       17. The optoelectronic component as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the optical coupling means form a reflection surface for the optical signals. 
     
     
       18. The optoelectronic component as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein the first housing part furthermore forms the mechanical alignment means which aligns the input/output surface of the light guide with the optical signals which have been reflected from the reflection surface or the optical signals which have been turned toward the reflection surface. 
     
     
       19. The optoelectronic component as claimed in  claim 14 , which onto the plastic material [sic], especially the overmold material is transparent and has an index of refraction n=1.5. 
     
     
       20. The optoelectronic component as claimed in  claim 14 , which the mechanical coupling means are made [sic] in the form of alignment means in the first housing part, preferably the alignment means being made in the form of a V-groove which preferably has side surfaces which run obliquely to one another. 
     
     
       21. An optoelectronic component which has the following:
 an electrical-optical transmission apparatus, 
 a carrier on which the electrical-optical transmission apparatus is located, coupling means formed by a first housing part which is connected to the material of the second housing part preferably by an overmold injection method, the plastic material forming a reflection surface on the transition between the plastic material and air above the optical transmitter such that the light emerging from the optical transmitter is reflected angled by roughly 90° onto the input end face of the light guide, and specifically is preferably collimated. 
 
     
     
       22. An optical coupling device with both optical and also mechanical coupling means in the form of a component housing which combines the optical fiber alignment (physical or mechanical light guide alignment) and the beam deflection which ensures an almost vertical radiation incidence in the input end face of the light guide, this preferably taking place in the beam deflection by means of collimation. 
     
     
       23. The optical coupling device as claimed in  claim 22 , usable in USB 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 plug-in connector technology, and specifically broadening the latter by optical connection means, wherein critical functions of fiber alignment and of beam deflection and collimation in a single production step by molding of the optoelectronic housing which forms the optical coupling device are achieved, no further active alignment step being necessary. 
     
     
       24. The optical coupling device made as a molded plastic body as claimed in  claim 22 , which with a first housing part forms a capsule with a second housing part which bears an optical element, wherein preferably the plastic body is molded directly on the second housing part (carrier) which bears the optical element. 
     
     
       25. A coupling device with a housing for efficient coupling between an optical fiber and an optical element (transmitting and/or receiving element), preferably with 90° beam deflection, the coupling providing for an optical fiber alignment and beam deflection as well as focusing, and specifically by providing or molding a molded highly transparent plastic body which forms the optical coupling device directly on a carrier which bears the active element(s), the plastic body forming the optical coupling device, i.e. the first housing part of the housing whose second housing part is formed for example by the carrier. 
     
     
       26. The coupling device as claimed in  claim 25 , wherein the housing is made such that the highly transparent plastic material or the overmold material is highly transparent, and when the first housing part is made with a further material of a second housing part, it assumes a (mechanical) connection, the second housing part being a carrier for an optical element and optionally other components or electrical circuits. 
     
     
       27. The coupling device as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein the plastic or the overmold plastic material which forms the first housing part [sic] a reflector or reflection mirror which forms a reflection surface for the light which can be transmitted between the optical element(s) positioned on the carrier and the entry end face of the light guide (and optionally vice versa), preferably the reflection mirror which forms the reflection surface being an internal conical total reflection mirror, the plastic on its interface to the ambient air forming the reflection mirror as a result of the transition from the plastic material with a higher index of refraction to the air with an index of refraction of 1. 
     
     
       28. The optical coupling device, especially as claimed in  claim 22 , wherein there is another conical reflector next to the reflector. 
     
     
       29. The optical coupling device as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the two reflectors are formed by the first housing part which is molded such that it forms the respective reflection surfaces. 
     
     
       30. The optical coupling device as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein the receiver receives the light entering through the optical fiber via a surface, as a result of internal total reflection the light being reflected away on the conical surface and in this way being turned by 90° and roughly collimated, its then being incident on the photodiode and the photodetector underneath the reflector, and specifically within the first housing part especially of the overmold compound or the overmold plastic, the emitter (VCSEL) on the other hand emitting the light which is incident on the conical reflector surface, the beam being turned (by less than 90°) and collimated in part as a result of internal total reflection so that the beam emerges from the first housing part, especially the overmold plastic, through the surface B and again enters through the conical surface C and finally emerges through the surface D. 
     
     
       31. The optical coupling device as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein the surfaces effectively form a spherical planar convex lens.